~*Not In Love Yet*~

Good Day Dear Friends!

This is my first experience with Rustic Wool Moire' Threads.  I can't say I love it yet... but it isn't all bad.

Here is how it went.  

First of all, I have heard so many of you raving over the thread.  Of course, I had to give it a try!  Unfortunately, it can't be bought local to me.  So, I searched a vendor online and ordered close to 20 spools.  (Big purchase for me!)

They can be found at about $5.25-$5.75 US per spool.  

It is 100% wool.  

It comes wrapped on great wood spools. 

Each spool holds 80m plus - minus 4%.

For comparison...

DMC can be purchased local to me.  Valdani Threads and other specialty threads must be purchased online for me.  There isn't a good shop near by to where we live.

DMC is about .65 US.  Valdani runs about $4.75-$6.75 US.  Other specialty threads are roughly the same price as Valdani.

DMC and the specialty threads that I have used are 100% cotton.

Valdani threads are neatly wrapped in a ball.  DMC and the other cotton threads are not.

DMC skeins are 8m.  Valdani are 67m-100m depending on thread thickness.  The other specialty threads can vary.  Checking some of my Weeks stash, they are 5 yards each.

Looking for inspiration, Maggie Bonanomi's latest book was sitting on my work table.  I sketched my doodle on Weaver's Cloth... similar to one on the cover of Pure & Simple.  Working with a bunch of randomly purchased colors... I was stumped.  This looked doable with what was on hand.

(This book, by the way, is WONDERFUL! Maggie is amazing with each and every design!)

I wasn't sure how long the spools of thread would last.  Sure, I knew how much the spool held, but it wasn't clear how it would punch.  Using a single thread in my Cameo Ultra Punch and a setting of #2... this is how the design worked up.  The color used for the background (207) was the one used most.  What I wasn't able to see before starting, the wood spools are skinny.  They do hold a great amount of thread.

Here is a close up of my punching...

The back side... close up...

 The entire back...

 And back to the front again... 4 1/2 inches in diameter.

When punching with DMC, or regular cotton floss, I use the full 6 strands of thread in my needle.  I don't worry if I  may run out mid-project.  If this happens, a simple run to the store, or a quick substitution is fine.

When working with Valdani thread, I punch with 2 strands each time... using either thread weight #8 OR #12.  If I run out, I'm usually comfortable with substituting another color.

Not knowing if there was enough of one color on hand for my little project, I kept it small.  Of course, two colors could have been used to work the background.  

Let me talk colors...

On my little project, the dark red blooms are very dark.  To me, they are too dark.  They don't even look like blooms to me because they are so dark compared to the rest of the image.  I don't have another color in the stash that would really look any better... to me anyway.

When my order was placed, I searched through the website looking closely at each color photo to pick and choose.  There wasn't a color chart.  The website I was on had several pages of colors with about 10 on each page.  Lighting on a computer monitor is always different than looking at something hands on.  To me, this was a rough start beginning with the order itself.

Plus, because it was purchased from a website, I had to wait.  My wait time was in excess of 2 weeks from order to mail box.  That was depressing.  It did come packaged complete and clean.  It just took longer than I would have like it to.  (I'm not going to say where it was purchased.)  Maybe I will try another site next time with quicker results.

~*~*~*~*~

So, overall... and to wrap it up... It was okay.  I will use up my stash, and I might order some more.  I don't hate it... it just isn't my favorate thread.

What I'm interest in doing though... mixing different threads.  I have some wonderful sock-weight yarn on hand.  It might be interesting to use it to give a variation of texture to a piece.  It is 100% wool also.

Mixing DMC and Valdani has become a common for me.  Why can't mixing different wool threads & yarns?  Maybe even mixing wools and cottons would give a great finish?

~*~*~*~*~

One more thing you may find interesting... the thickness...

This picture shows Rustic Wool Moire' on top, DMC (full 6 strands in the center), and Valdani #8 on the bottom.  The Moire' thread is slightly thinner than the #8 Valdani.

Remember, when I work with Valdani, I use 2 strands at one time.  Working with Moire', I only used a single strand.  It did work to cover my design well, I didn't notice any voids (holes in coverage).

I hope you have found this review helpful.  If you have any hints & tips for working with the wool thread, leave a comment.  I'm sure others would like to know your thoughts too.

Wishing you warm smiles...

Betty